Toddler low iron levels HELP

[Nomoreplease2016]

So my 3.5 yo got blood results back after a trip to A&E with a virus that his hemoglobin levels were slightly low at 9.8.
he’s an otherwise healthy little boy who just started preschool and catches viruses. Not low on his energy, does not need a lot of sleep he stopped napping before 2. And none of this has changed
firstly, is there any tips for getting his iron back up?
He’s always been a pale child since about 12 months old. And my iron has always been on the lower side of normal all my life.
Anyway his gp started him on 1.1ml galfer once a day with meals, this just started yesterday evening and this morning. But the internet (I know I shouldn’t google) is telling me this is not enough for his age & weight (17kg).
does anyone have any experience with this?

thanks so much any help is greatly appreciated!!! Xxx

I will add his other blood results were normal and he is to repeat bloods in 6 weeks to check the HB levels again

Give iron at a different time to dairy/calcium containing foods and give with vitamin C. Does he eat meat and leafy green vegetables? Otherwise if he's well in himself don't worry too much. You're having a retest in 6 weeks so they can prescribe a higher dose if it's not helping.

Iron supplements can upset the digestive system, a lower dose might be easier on the side effects. A lower dose that can be tolerated long term WILL help. As @UnbeatenMum says you can also tweak his diet.

On the face of it, they may have made a mistake and got the dose too low - https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/drugs/ferrous-fumarate/#indications-and-dose

The doses for children got tweaked relatively recently and sometimes people are working from old guidelines etc. in practice if you supplement at a lower dose you'll usually still get there with topping up the iron stores, just it takes longer.

Giving iron at the same time as milk or drinking excessive milk overall can be bad for absorption
Vitamin C containing foods and drinks (eg fruit juice) given at the same time as the supplement is absorbed better. Keep promoting iron containing foods.

It's not unreasonable to query the dose with the GP in case they have a specific rationale. May make more sense just to complete the period of supplementation already in place, and the repeat bloods will guide you all anyway.

He eats broccoli but probably not enough maybe twice a week and he’s not great with meat. Think it’s a texture thing & age as I know a lot of similar toddlers (Any tips at all that way I’d be very grateful! )
he’s well in himself just catching colds viruses from going to preschool 5 days a week now it’s his first year full time. But no changes in energy levels etc.
im a natural worrier but what’s keeping me positive is that there’s not been any big changes overall and I notice everything!

Thanks so much for your reply
i can see what you mean!
I will update this thread on my appt this week with my GP, not sure what day but will definitely be in to see her and discuss in greater detail
X

How much milk is he drinking? Milk can stop the absorption of iron

Chocolate and eggs can inhibit iron too. Blackstrap molasses is high in iron.

Has he been checked for celiac disease. It can cause low iron

Oh really?
the doc at the hospital told us an egg everyday!
and he drinks milk a couple times a day
last year it was so much milk I had to cut it down as it ruined his appetite and it’s all he wanted!

No he hasn’t been checked. Are there many symptoms ?

I don’t know a whole lot about it. I do know that a symptom of celiac can be low iron levels. As the body can’t absorb all the nutrients. If you want to have him tested he needs to keep eating gluten. I’m sure there is a Celiac charity that will have more information.